New York’s elderly can now get a ‘virtual companion’ for chats, medication reminders and memory games
A new pilot program launching today across New York aims to turn seniors’ TV screens into personalized hubs for caregiving, communication and connection.
Qualifying older adults will receive devices from ONSCREEN, Inc. that can transform any TV into a smart caregiving platform, offering key features like medication reminders, daily check-ins that are sent to their loved ones’ phones and quick video access.
The standout of the program is Joy — an AI-powered virtual companion built into the system that interacts with seniors every day.
From personalized conversations and memory-boosting games to cognitive exercises and even virtual painting sessions, Joy is programmed to help keep seniors’ minds sharp and their spirits lifted without forcing them to learn a new technology.
Help for the ones who help
The program, created in collaboration with the New York State Office for the Aging and the Association on Aging in New York, isn’t just designed to support older adults — it also aims to reduce pressure on the family members and caregivers who look after them.
Government data shows that about 37.1 million Americans, or 14% of US adults, provide unpaid elder care. While the experience can be deeply meaningful, it often comes with significant emotional and physical strain.
ONSCREEN’s technology aims to ease that burden by delivering real-time updates on loved ones’ well-being and daily interactions with Joy, sent directly to caregivers’ smartphones.
It also offers instant video access, allowing families to connect anytime — no apps, logins or tech headaches.
“ONSCREEN is all about keeping older adults connected with their family, using the simplest and most familiar technology — the TV,” Costin Tuculescu, CEO of the company, said in a press release.
“By bringing auto-answered video calls, AI companionship, medication reminders, and even classes to the TV, we reduce loneliness, and increase peace of mind for caregivers,” he added.
How to sign up
ONSCREEN is offering 100 devices free of charge to eligible New York residents on a first-come, first-served basis. You can sign up here.
Participants will be asked to complete brief surveys at the beginning, midpoint and end of the pilot to help assess the technology’s impact on well-being and caregiver stress.
Representatives for ONSCREEN told The Post that the program could be expanded in the future, depending on the success of the pilot.
The hidden dangers of loneliness
While the COVID-19 pandemic may be behind us, the loneliness epidemic continues to affect millions of Americans, especially older adults.
In 2024, a nationwide study found that 33% of US adults aged 50 to 80 reported feeling lonely some of the time or often in the past year, while 29% felt isolated.
The World Health Organization has labeled loneliness a “pressing health threat,” with risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.
Prolonged loneliness has been shown to increase the risk of premature death and is also linked to chronic conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, weakened immune function and obesity.
Research suggests that social isolation also impacts brain health, contributing to cognitive decline and raising the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
The mental health consequences are equally concerning, with loneliness tied to higher rates of depression, anxiety and even suicide.
Taken together, studies show that people who experience social isolation or loneliness are more likely to end up in the emergency room or in a nursing home.
“ONSCREEN’s innovative TV-based approach, with their integration AI companion Joy, brings a completely new take on how to provide care and support to our quickly growing aging population,” Rebecca Preve, executive director of AgingNY, said.
“By removing the technical barriers of touch screens, apps and smaller devices, ONSCREEN has the potential to meaningfully impact many of the issues that older adults face,” she added.
